Basanta Panchami
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Basanta Panchami or Saraswati Puja or Shree Panchami is a day to celebrate the birthday of Saraswati – the Goddess of Learning. This day falls between January/February. This is a day when people from school students to scholars worship their pens and books to please the Goddess and expect her favor in their studies so they become wise and knowledgeable. People also throng around the idol of Goddess Saraswati, especially in Swayambhunath and offer flowers, sweets, fruits, etc. On this day, small children are taught to read and write and people write on the stones and slabs with chalks and pencils. Devotees, students, writers, scholars, singers, weavers, craftsmen and others worship their books, pens, ink bottles, tools etc. on this sacred day as they make offerings to Goddess Saraswati with sweets, flowers and rice.
Basanta Panchami and Saraswati Puja celebrations in Nepal welcome the advent of spring, flowers, gaiety and good fortune. The people of Nepal believe that Basanta Panchami is one of the most auspicious dates for beginning a newly married life. Children in between the ages of 5 to 7 are made to utter their first alphabet on the auspicious Basant Panchami day.
Saraswati Bandana Mantra
Saraswati Vandana Mantra is an important hindu mantra that is recited for higher knowledge and wisdom.
या कुंदेंदु तुषारहार धवला, या शुभ्र वस्त्रावृता |
या वीणावर दण्डमंडितकरा, या श्वेतपद्मासना ||
या ब्रह्माच्युतशंकरप्रभ्रृतिभिर्देवै: सदा वन्दिता |
सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती नि:शेष जाड्यापहा ||
Transliteration
Yaa Kundendu tushaara haara-dhavalaa,
Yaa shubhra-vastra’avritaa
Yaa veena-vara-danda-manditakara,
Yaa shweta padma’asana
Yaa brahma’achyuta shankara prabhritibhir Devai-sadaa Vanditaa
Saa Maam Paatu Saraswati Bhagavatee Nihshesha jaadyaa-pahaa.
Shuklam Brahm Vichar Saar parma Madhyam Jagadvyapini,
Haste Sphatik Malikam Kamlam Padmasane Sanstitaam .
Vandetam Parmeshwari Bhagwati…..
Saa maam Paatu Saraswati Bhagwati Buddhi Pradam Shardam.
Translation
She, who is as fair as the Kunda flower,the moon, and a garland of Tushar flowers;
She, whose hands are adorned by the excellent veena, and whose seat is the pure white lotus;
She, who is constantly praised and glorified by Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh and other divinities;
O Mother Goddess, remove my mental inertia!
Related articles
- Religion & Spirituality answer: Who is the goddes saraswathi (wiki.answers.com)
- Hindu Mantras of Learning (prophet666.com)
